[livius]

No. The US has actually tried to take over Cuba several times. Prior to the US Civil War, several Southern US “adventurers” went there to attempt to either take it over by force, or get the Spanish government (Cuba was under Spain until 1898) to sell it because they wanted to use it as an outpost for the expansion of slavery and make it another slave state in order to build their bloc. The Spanish ambassador said he’d rather see the island sink into the sea, and they didn’t get very far.

Then, of course, we occupied Cuba for ten years after the Spanish American War. We left peacefully, however.

Castro would certainly not be interested in letting the US take over Cuba...what Obama really wants is for Castro and Communism to take over the US.

[Hawthorn]

>> we occupied Cuba for ten years after the Spanish American War. We left peacefully, however <<

Basically correct, except that two separate occupations were involved.

But anyway, there was never any strong public sentiment during those years to make Cuba a state.

On the other hand, Pres. Teddy Roosevelt did seriously consider seizing the Dominican Republic and turning it into a state, which could then become a sort of “homeland” for black Americans. But the idea never really got off the ground.

[FewsOrange]

Then, of course, we occupied Cuba for ten years after the Spanish American War. We left peacefully, however.

Only after forcing them to accept the Platt Amendment.